BLOG

Giving Tuesday is, according to the official website, "the a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving."

Many local non-profits in the Tri-Cities Region are getting in on the #GivingTuesday spirit. If you're looking to help out a local organization, our list below has some good ones (if you are a Chamber member and don't see your organization listed below, please contact Austin Regimbal at austin.regimbal@tricityregionalchamber.com).

Mission Support Alliance - "It's #GivingTuesday and MSA wants to celebrate with our social media fans! Tell us your favorite nonprofit organization in the comments and tomorrow we'll randomly select one organization to receive a $100 donation! We're doing the same thing on Instagram so follow @missionsupportalliance! (One entry per person/per social media platform; organization must be a 501(c)3.)"

Tri-Cities Cancer Center - "Looking for a non-profit to support this #GivingTuesday? Look no further! If you want to help cancer patients get the care they need, start your own personal fundraiser right here on Facebook to help us. Just type #donate in your post to add a donate button and choose Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation as your non-profit organization and you are set!"

These are only a few of the Members doing something special for #GivingTuesday. For a complete list of non-profit Regional Chamber members, visit our directory.

The Washington State Public Ports Association (WPPA) honored the Port of Pasco as 2017 Port of the Year at their annual conference in November. In making the award, WPPA noted the completion of the $43 Million Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) renovation and expansion project.

WPPA Executive Director Eric Johnson highlighted the new airport terminal project “as an achievement that showcases what port’s do best - taking a long view of improving key assets into new centers of public engagement and private investment for the betterment of the entire community.”

In receiving the award, Commission President Jean Ryckman stated “The Port of Pasco is honored to receive this award and to be recognized for the contributions to our community. She added “While people saw the two and a half year construction project, they didn’t see the five years of planning and budget discussions before the first wall was ever knocked down. WPPA is recognizing the entire effort of the Port of Pasco Commission and staff in making this project happen for their community.”

Senator Maria Cantwell presided over the grand opening of the new airport terminal in January of this year. Constructed over 3 years, the project doubled the size of the terminal to 110,000 SF and added a brand new boarding concourse, new gates, a new restaurant and bar, coffee and gift shop, children’s play area, and greatly expanded security screening and passenger seating areas. The project also remodeled the existing ticket gates, baggage claim, and rental car areas – all while remaining open and fully functional for the travelling public. The project fulfilled an 8-year planning effort to accommodate a rapidly growing passenger base at the Tri-CitiesAirport, currently the 4th largest commercial airport in Washington State, with 4 airlines averaging 45 flights a day to9 non-stop destinations and serving over 750,000 passengers per year.

A citizens committee assembled to advise the Port Commission on the project strongly urged an expansion that would not only meet current needs, but also handle 15 years future growth. The Port took on the challenge and decided to issue a $25M revenue bond backed by 20 years of passenger ticket fees to come up with the funds needed for the larger terminal recommended by the citizens committee. The result is an airport terminal that will serve the Tri-Cities region for many years to come.

While the award committee noted the Tri-Cities Airport, the award also recognized other Port projects including the success of the Pasco Processing Center at attracting world-class food processors to Pasco and the significance of the Osprey Pointe Business Park to enhance economic opportunities in East Pasco. “The Port is committed to promoting growth and economic prosperity in our region and we are greatly honored to be recognized as the Port of the Year,” stated Randy Hayden, the Port of Pasco Executive Director. “Projects like this are years in the making and I particularly want to recognize past Commissioners and staff who laid the groundwork for the successes we are seeing today.”

About Washington Public Ports AssociationThe Washington Public Ports Association promotes the interests of the 76 public ports in the state through government relations, education and strong advocacy programs.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s in-house Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Business Counselor, Ashley Coronado, was awarded certification as a Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) by the Professional Review Committee of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) on Sept. 19, 2017. Coronado was recognized and awarded the certification at the APTAC Fall Conference in Washington D.C. on Monday, November 6.

Washington PTAC helps businesses at no cost to find, bid, win and perform on federal, state and local government contracts.

In order to attain her CPP, Coronado completed approved training in 13 specific areas, plus an additional 10 elective areas, demonstrated capability by undergoing verification in 19 specific areas, applying technical expertise and experience to client counseling, and had a minimum of two years’ experience counseling businesses in government contracting.

With this certification, Coronado now joins the ranks of APTAC’s subject matter experts, embodying a commitment to professional excellence in the field of government procurement assistance. Approximately 10 percent of APTAC members hold this certification.

Coronado has been with Washington PTAC since 2010 and serves clients in six southeastern Washington counties, covering the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Yakima areas. Tri-Cities PTAC has an active client base of 220 businesses, and clients won nearly $65 million in government contracts and subcontracts in 2016.​For more information on Washington PTAC, visit washingtonptac.org.

Veterans Day is tomorrow, Saturday, November 11, 2017, and plenty of Regional Chamber members are offering discounts or freebies to those who have served our country. If you would like your offer included, please e-mail Austin Regimbal, Marketing & Communications Director, at austin.regimbal@tricityregionalchamber.com.